European nationalists reject Acta

Thu, 05/07/2012 - 18:00

Nationalist MEPs across Europe voted against the infamous Acta treaty on Wednesday as the bill was rejected by an overwhelming majority.

By Stephen Palmer-The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement was defeated by 478 votes to 39, with 165 abstentions, after failed attempts by the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) to delay the decision.

Joining our own British National Party MEPs in opposing the treaty were representatives from the Front National, Jobbik, Vlaams Belang, the Austrian Freedom Party, Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom, Ataka and the Greater Romania Party.

Among the 39 voting in favour of Acta were 32 MEPs from the EPP, mostly from Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP.

The sole UK MEP to back the bill was the Liberal Democrat’s Bill Newton Dunn.
Acta had previously been rejected by all five parliamentary bodies responsible for its review, most recently by the European trade committee.

‘Good result for freedom’

British National Party MEP Nick Griffin said the outcome was a ‘good result for freedom’ but warned that it will not be the end of Acta.

‘Despite the big vote against Acta, the European Commission say they will wait for the European Court ruling then try again,’ he said.

‘Just like with referendums, they keep on making voters vote until they vote as they are supposed to.’
Acta ostensibly aims to protect copyright over a wide range of industries, but opponents contend it would lead to censorship and loss of privacy on the internet.

The treaty would require signatory states to impose draconian restrictions on online privacy in the drive to eradicate content infringement and the sale of counterfeit branded goods through the internet.

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